Germany kicked-off their World Cup finals preparations with their youngest-ever side holding Poland to a goalless draw on Tuesday. With 13 of his squad involved in Saturday's German Cup final when Bayern Munich play Borussia Dortmund in Berlin, Germany coach Joachim Loew named eight debutants for the friendly in Hamburg and his entire starting eleven had a combined total of just 13 caps.
It was the youngest German side ever named -- with an average aged of 21.45 -- in the 106-year history of German Football Association (DFB) internationals, beating the previous record of 21.5 for a 1908 international against Switzerland.
Schalke's promising trio of left-wing Draxler, 20, attacking midfielder Max Meyer, 18, and right-wing Leon Goretzka, 19, had their first run out for the senior national side having all risen through the junior ranks, with play-maker Meyer comfortable on the ball without dazzling.
Hoffenheim's 21-year-old striker Kevin Volland had a few half chances up front as he played the first half, while at the other end Poland's defensive midfielder Mateusz Klich forced Germany goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler into a save with half an hour gone.
With his side not going to Brazil, Poland coach Adam Nawalka left out his Dortmund stars in striker Robert Lewandowski and right-back Lukasz Piszczek with Southampton's veteran goalkeeper Artur Boruc captaining the side with Werder Bremen striker Ludovic Obraniak playing up front.
The opening half saw Germany in control despite their inexperience, while Poland were always dangerous on the counter-attack, but all too often their efforts petered out and Stuttgart's Antonio Ruediger's 32nd-minute header was the Germans best chance of the opening half.
Augsburg's Andre Hahn, who came on for the second half, squandered a great chance to grab the winner six minutes from time when his bicycle kick failed to beat Boruc.
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Germany kicked-off their World Cup finals preparations with their youngest-ever side holding Poland to a goalless draw on Tuesday. With 13 of his squad involved in Saturday's German Cup final when Bayern Munich play Borussia Dortmund in Berlin, Germany coach Joachim Loew named eight debutants for the friendly in Hamburg and his entire starting eleven had a combined total of just 13 caps.
It was the youngest German side ever named -- with an average aged of 21.45 -- in the 106-year history of German Football Association (DFB) internationals, beating the previous record of 21.5 for a 1908 international against Switzerland.
Schalke's promising trio of left-wing Draxler, 20, attacking midfielder Max Meyer, 18, and right-wing Leon Goretzka, 19, had their first run out for the senior national side having all risen through the junior ranks, with play-maker Meyer comfortable on the ball without dazzling.
Hoffenheim's 21-year-old striker Kevin Volland had a few half chances up front as he played the first half, while at the other end Poland's defensive midfielder Mateusz Klich forced Germany goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler into a save with half an hour gone.
[bild2]
With his side not going to Brazil, Poland coach Adam Nawalka left out his Dortmund stars in striker Robert Lewandowski and right-back Lukasz Piszczek with Southampton's veteran goalkeeper Artur Boruc captaining the side with Werder Bremen striker Ludovic Obraniak playing up front.
The opening half saw Germany in control despite their inexperience, while Poland were always dangerous on the counter-attack, but all too often their efforts petered out and Stuttgart's Antonio Ruediger's 32nd-minute header was the Germans best chance of the opening half.
Augsburg's Andre Hahn, who came on for the second half, squandered a great chance to grab the winner six minutes from time when his bicycle kick failed to beat Boruc.
